Journalist Christiane Amanpour’s show Amanpour & Co. is focused on getting Israel to retract their attacks on Hamas terrorist group and come to a compromise despite Hamas’ control of the Gaza Strip.
On the episode, Amanpour featured Ami Ayalon, a former head of Israel’s internal security who now pushes for negotiations towards a two-state solution. Despite Israel’s concerns about border-drawing, “right of return” for Palestinian refugees, and the need to monitor militant groups, Ayalon argued that the defeat of Hamas can only be achieved through a two-state solution. However, Amanpour did not address these concerns and instead pressed Ayalon for Israel’s stance on the issue.
Amanpour also had a Conservative Party politician from the UK, Alicia Kearns, who shared a similar pro-Palestinian outlook. They both pushed for a two-state solution despite Israel’s resistance and reiterated the support of the US and Arab states for this resolution. Amanpour also mentioned how the idea of a Palestinian statehood is gaining traction within Israel.
Kearns also criticized the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, as “ultra-orthodox, far-right,” implying that they are hindering the possibility of a two-state solution. However, Amanpour and her guests failed to address the valid concerns and reasoning behind Israel’s resistance to this solution.
Towards the end of the episode, they briefly discussed the scandal within UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), in which many employees participated in the October 7th attacks. Kearns attempted to compartmentalize the good work that UNRWA does from the wrongdoing of some of its members.
Amanpour’s show almost entirely focused on pushing Israel to accept a two-state solution despite valid concerns and resistance from the Israeli government. This one-sided approach undermines the complex issues and history involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and fails to address the root causes of the ongoing tensions in the region.